Blog dedicated to helping homeless, and others in need in Central Ohio through knitting, crocheting, and looming.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to warm those in need through knitting, crocheting, looming and quilting. Our NEW hand made items provide hope to those living outdoors and those in temporary shelters. We provide for Men, Women, and Children in Central Ohio all year long. Specific details available by clicking item specific tabs, or the Who we Help Tab. If you have further questions, please contact me via the contact form. ALL DONATIONS MUST INCLUDE A NOTE WITH AN EMAIL ADDRESS.

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Saturday, April 25, 2015

Homeless Veterans, Rest in Peace 1st Class Jerome Murdough

A-Z Challenge = V=Vets, Vagabond, Vagrant, Vulnerable and Victim

The map above represents cities that have signed onto The Major Challenge to reduce homelessness of Veterans in their communities. Michele Obama spearheaded this program in June of 2014. The programs tracks the Vets in order to know how many there are, whether or not they've found housing and or are still homeless. Reducing the number of Homeless Veterans was a goal of President Obama's since 2009. The data in 2014 indicated Nationally, there was an average of 49,933 homeless Vets in a single night, those numbers are down 14k from 2013, and 33% lower then there were in 2010.

Homeless Vets can be as anyone from WWII forward, though stats indicating Veterans of Vietnam may be the most at risk.

Jerome Anthony Murdough was a US Marine. This man died a very sad death at the age of 56 while in custody in New York's Riker's Facility. What happened to him, sadly represents a trend around the country. Homeless are treated as criminals, arrested rather than helped. The report I read indicated 3 major mistakes took place, causing this man.......this Veteran's death.

He was arrested instead of helped. He had a mental illness, he was homeless, he was arrested for sleeping in a stairwell, he was arrested for trespassing. Sadly, it wasn't the first time he had been arrested for similar problems.

Once arrested his bail was set at $2,500.00, a fee that of course he could not pay, (typically prohibitive bail is set).

Due to his mental illness, he was incarcerated in a special observation cell that measured 6 x 10. These observation cells are suppose to be monitored once every 15 minutes. His dead body was found 4 hours later. He was dehydrated, died of a heat stroke in a cell that was 100 degrees.

Marine Murdough's mother wasn't even notified until contacted by a news agency 1 month after death of her son. She is suing the officials.

Rest in Peace. His final resting place is Forest Green Park Cemetery in Morganville, New Jersey.

Another Veteran, homeless, trying to stay warm by sleeping over a grate where some heat is possible.

Vagabonds and Vagrants are other words that are used to describe homeless people. The definition for both is a person without means of support, without a permanent address, who moves about. Sad definitions for our Veterans, don't you think! Why are they not properly supported? The next time you hear someone say all homeless are lazy bums, PLEASE tell them they don't know what they're talking about.

Of all the stories of the homeless the stories of the veterans touch me the most. If our young folks were educated as to what is happening with our veterans I can't imagine they would volunteer for service.

Thank you for featuring his story here, sad the circumstances of his passing. I do think the country needs to do something better to help those who served it not end up homeless. I do hope the Major Challenge is successful in their goals.

Thank you Sandy for putting our veterans in the fore front. No veteran should ever be homeless - mental illness is out of control here in our country. Hoping education and awareness through media and the coming together of all of us can help solve this very real problem. @Door2LoreSuePowerofStoryABlog - Every Hero Has a Story

What a heartbreaking story, that poor man. Stories like this make me SO angry. Homeless people need homes not jail or ER's.I was at the VA hospital in Philadelphia last night and there was a veteran on the roof threatening to jump.They said it happens all the time. Disgusting.

I share your anger Doreen, I've told lots of stories here on Bridge and Beyond in an attempt to help others feel sad or angry, sad or angry enough to do something, to speak up, to help etc. How horrible about the man on the roof. I will see if I can follow up on the story to share here on Bridge and Beyond.

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Where are You and Your Yarn From?

I'm trying to identify where everyone is from, partially for fun. Take a look at the map. Also, believe it will aid me in cases where we have several people with the same name. Please look at the lists of bloggers and non bloggers and see if I have the state you hail from. If not, please leave a comment and let me know.

Additionally, we've had help from Scotland, England, Germany Puerto Rico, Canada, and France! They don't appear on the map, but their help is still greatly appreciated.